Balk off Win for Spinners on Bark in the Park Day

Just when you think you have seen it all, the Lowell Spinners won in the bottom of the 11th inning on a walk off catcher’s balk, evening up the series against the Scrappers. It was also Bark in the Park Day as Spinner fans brought their furry little friends to the stadium.

The players, fans and their dogs battled the 90 degree heat at Lelacheur Park on the second game of the three game series between the Spinners and Scrappers.

Luis Ramon started for the Spinners, allowing three runs, seven hits, and striking out one batter before Randy Perez came in for relief after four innings. Perez was stellar in three innings of relief, allowing just one unearned run on one hit and struck out a pair.

The Spinners offense got off to a great start in the second inning on an RBI single from Mitch Gunsolus.

The Spinners then scored a second run when Luis Alexander Basabe struck out, but advanced to first as Hector Lorenzana scored on a wild pitch by the Scrapper’s Dominic DeMasi, as the Spinners only trailed by one.

The Spinners took the lead in the third after a one-out walk by Tucker Tubbs and Chad De La Guerra. Hector Lorenzana singled driving in both to give Lowell a 4-3 lead.

The Scrappers rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning on a home run by David Armendariz, which went off the video board and eventually sent the game into extra innings.

The score remained tied heading into the bottom of the 11th where Jeremy Rivera got a leadoff walk. Victor Acosta then hit a bunt to bring Rivera to second and as it turned out, Acosta was safe with his perfect bunt. Tucker Tubbs registered the only out of the inning with a sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners. Chad De La Guerra went up to the plate and the Scrappers signaled to intentionally walk him. On the first pitch, the catcher of the Scrappers, Li-Jen Chu was called for the extremely rare catcher’s balk for leaving the catcher’s box before the pitch was thrown, which gave the Spinners the winning run.

There were some fun dog themed promotions unleashed throughout the game for the Bark in the Park themed game. On the first base side of the concourse, fans could get puppy kisses for a donation to Wignall Animal Hospital for just $2.

Instead of dizzy bat, two fans participated in Dizzy Dog Race, where they chased their tails and then ran through cones on all fours, along with jumping through hula hoops.

Two season ticket holders participated in a hot dog eating contest. There was a twist, however. They would have to eat the hot dogs out of dog bowls! The winning contestant went home with an autographed Brandon Magee bat.

Join us tonight on Vietnam Veteran’s Night for the third game of the three game series against the Scrappers begins at 7:05PM.